Summer cooking. Had me a blast. Summer cooking. Spring just couldn’t last. Summer’s a comin’!  Got your pool body ready?  Got your kids’ activities planned out?  Nailed down any summer vacation plans? For me: My pool body looks a lot like my snow shoveling body. My kids’ activities looks a lot like bike riding and Read more

“We’re MINT to be, you and I”, he said to me.  “I’ve waited my whole life to meet a baker like you.  I know that together with that boxy fellow right over there, you and I will create beautiful and magical memories for all who come across our paths.” He was right.  He, of course Read more

Have you heard this song by Nichole Nordeman?  If you’re a parent, it’ll hit you hard. If you have very little ones, it seems like time isn’t going fast.  But, one day, you wake up and you have a 5-year-old – even though it feels like you just gave birth to him.  I can easily Read more

Oh summer! How I love thee! Kids outside playing. Pool is filled up. (Who cares if it’s just a kiddie pool? Don’t judge me.) Baseball is happening. (Course, isn’t always baseball happening? I mean, they start in March and go to October…what other sport does that?!) A lot of good is to be had during summer.

One thing that is REALLY good to do in the summer is to make homemade creamsicles. (Course, it’s really good any time of the year. Again, don’t judge me.) Now, I don’t know if there’s an official definition of what goes into a creamsicle versus a popsicle. But, to my little ol’ noggin, a creamsicle is ice cream based and a popsicle isn’t. So that’s why I’m calling these creamsicles. Whatever you call it, I love them! Read More…

We’ve been dealing with food allergies and sensitivities here in this house.  My oldest son is almost 5 and over the last 6 months or so, we’ve been suspecting that certain foods have been affecting him.  The kicker?  We don’t know which foods.  Or at least, we don’t know ALL the foods yet.  So we’ve Read more

My kids are barbecue freaks.  The sauce, that is.  Not necessarily the style of cooking.  They don’t know much about that.  No, they love the sauce.  I’m not very adventurous with the meats that I cook with, but if I’m using barbecue sauce, they’ll eat it.  I have to be careful that they have chicken Read more

Ahh…the life of a Stay-At-Home Mom when the afternoon rolls around and your preschoolers ask you “Can we have a snack?” There’s the usual suspects around our house: veggies & dip, pretzels, various fruits (apples, oranges and bananas being the most popular), and popcorn.

But we sometimes mix things up and have something sweet – especially if I’ve recently made cookies or homemade creamsicles! Sweet is great, but I like serving sweet and healthy! Read More…

I always thought my slow cooker made amazing and tender beef, until I discovered the Instant Pot. If you haven’t cooked beef in a pressure cooker yet, you are missing out! The meat is so tender and delicious. I made gravy from the juice from my last Instant Pot beef roast and it was the best gravy I’ve ever had in my life (I’m not kidding).

Bonus, is that you can cook an entire beef roast in just 60-75 minutes with better results than an all-day slow cook! I’ve been searching for more Instant Pot recipes to add to my weekly plans, because they are so easy, quick and yummy! Here are some delicious Instant Pot beef recipes to try. Read More…

“I think I love you”, he said, taking another cookie bar. “You’re the most awesome baker in the world”, he said, taking yet another cookie bar. “You’re the best wife ever”, he said, taking another cookie bar. “I’ve got good news.  I just won a million dollars in the lottery and I’m giving it all Read more